Ben Shelton Shares his Opinion on the Long-Lasting Debate of Two-Week Masters 1000 Events

Ben Shelton has reached his second Masters 1000 quarterfinal of the year and will face Alex De Minaur in his upcoming match in Toronto.

Ben Shelton Shares his Opinion on the Long-Lasting Debate of Two-Week Masters 1000 Events

Ben Shelton (image via National Bank Open)

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Several tennis players have been critical of the new two-week format that the National Bank Open has adopted. Quarterfinalist Ben Shelton recently weighed in on this change after his fourth-round match against Flavio Cobolli. The 22-year-old is into his second Masters 1000 quarterfinal this year after the Indian Wells Open, where he lost to eventual champion Jack Draper in straight sets.

In Toronto, Shelton pulled off a stunning comeback, trailing 3-5 in the decider, to claim his 100th match win. He is the eighth man born in the 21st century and the ninth active American to reach this milestone. Speaking about the new prolonged format, Shelton commented:

Although my tennis adapts very well to these hot and humid conditions, not playing all year in a context like this can make it very challenging to adjust. Last week I went to Washington because of what this tour means to me, but I was really physically and mentally tired.

Shelton commenced his North American hard-court swing at the Mubadala Citi DC Open. He reached the semifinal of this ATP 500 event, losing to eventual runner-up Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. Fokina lost to Alex De Minaur in a thrilling final in DC, and the Australian will now set up a clash with Shelton in the quarterfinal at the Canadian Open. Shelton further added on this tournament’s new format:

I thought that if I could play some matches, I would see the advantages this week here and that’s what happened. It’s tough to compete in two-week events because the day in between takes away your rhythm. This causes the level of play to drop; we all talk about it in the locker room. When you compete two or three days in a row, you acquire a constant rhythm and greater confidence in your game.

The upcoming quarterfinal match marks the first meeting on court between Shelton and De Minaur. If Shelton overcomes this challenge, he will proceed to his maiden Masters 1000 semifinal, where he will meet either last year’s runner-up Andrey Rublev or second seed Taylor Fritz.

Ben Shelton and Flavio Cobolli exchange a heated post-match encounter

Ben Shelton and Flavio Cobolli met on Monday for the fifth time on court. The third set of their match was a tight affair, where Shelton overcame a 4-2 deficit. Once Shelton sealed the victory with a 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(1) scoreline, he had a heated exchange with Cobolli during the customary handshake. The argument continued after the Italian had packed his bag and left the Center Court with the chair umpire standing close to them. Shelton, at one point, could also be heard saying, “But we are friends?“.

Ben Shelton and Flavio Cobolli argued over a 'gesture' after their Canadian Open clash
Ben Shelton, Flavio Cobolli (Image via X/Lisa, @parisianarchive, Sportsnet)

He just made a gesture in the tie-breaker, and I asked him about it. He said it wasn’t towards me, so we’re cool.

Both shook hands two more times before Cobolli finally left the court. Though, Cobolli lost the match he won the hearts of the spectators when he gave away his racket to a child on the stands while departing. Later during his on-court interview, the American explained the tense encounter remarking that he saw Cobolli making some gesture during the tie-breaker, which Cobolli denied was directed at Shelton.

With this win, Shelton has leveled the head-to-head record over Cobolli to 2-2. He is also 2-0 against Cobolli this year, as before the Canadian Open, Shelton had defeated Cobolli in straight sets in the round of 32 of the Mexican Open.

Ben Shelton advances at the Toronto Open

World No. 7 Ben Shelton advanced to his fourth Masters 1000 quarter-final in Toronto after a hard-fought win over Flavio Cobolli. The American left-hander battled for two hours and 24 minutes to earn a 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 victory. This was their fourth meeting, and Shelton secured his second win despite some post-match tension. Cobolli appeared frustrated with Shelton’s behavior during the tie-break, though they resolved things shortly after.

Ben Shelton (2)
Ben Shelton (Image via X/Joao Fonseca Updates)

Cobolli had a chance to close out the match, leading 5-3 in the final set and serving at 5-4. However, Shelton broke back at a crucial moment and pushed the set into a tie-break. Although Cobolli saved one match point at 5-6, Shelton took control in the decider and closed it out with strong serving. Overall, Ben won three more points than Flavio and held his nerve under pressure.

Shelton faced ten break points and got broken three times, but his superior serving helped him stay in the match. Cobolli served at only 45% and also dropped serve three times. While the Italian had better control from the baseline, both players made plenty of mistakes, combining for 90 unforced errors. Shelton’s 17 extra service winners played a key role in his victory.

The match had several momentum swings. Shelton took the opening set after breaking twice, despite being broken once while serving for it. Cobolli responded in the second set with improved play and an ace to close it. In the decider, Cobolli again gained the lead but faltered at 5-4. In the tie-break, Shelton was dominant, earning early mini-breaks and sealing the win with a powerful serve.